The state of U.S. democracy On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country. While a new administration transitions into office, the past four years have left the country asking, “How strong is our democratic foundation?” The run-up to the 2020 presidential election in the United States was like none other, with vitriolic and divisive discourse and a sitting president making false claims about the integrity of the vote, culminating in a deadly confrontation at the Capitol building. Yet, lawmakers still carried out their role in certifying Joseph R. Biden Jr. as 46th President and Kamala Harris as 49th Vice President and the first female to hold the role.